Safe Streets Topeka/Shawnee County and its parent organization, Shawnee Regional Prevention and Recovery Services (PARS) announced today the hiring of two new employees.

Bob Hedberg will join the staff as Director of Community Services.

Bob Hedberg will join the staff as Director of Community Services. His duties will include Community Outreach and Grant & Program Development. He will play an integral role in Safe Streets initiatives. Mr. Hedberg has extensive experience in research, grant writing, development and management, and health assessment. He is the former Deputy Commissioner for Research and Prevention at the Juvenile Justice Authority where he coordinated prevention planning for the Governor’s Prevention Council. He also has five years’ experience as the Grants and Project Officer for Shawnee County Health Agency. In the Topeka community, Mr. Hedberg serves on the leadership team of Heartland Healthy Neighborhoods, as he Secretary of the Safe Streets Coalition and as the Missions Coordinator for the First Baptist Church of Topeka. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Iowa State University and a Masters in Education from Idaho State University.

Kristi Pankratz will join the staff as Director of Staff Streets.

Kristi Pankratz will join the staff as Director of Staff Streets. She will manage all aspects of the Safe Streets initiatives and its programs. Kristi is an experienced public relations administrator who has served the Topeka community in public service roles for the past 12 years. Ms. Pankratz has a background in public safety, public health and prevention that will greatly benefit the Safe Streets program. Prior positions she has held include: spokesperson for the Topeka Police Department, Communications Director for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Community Prevention Specialist for PARS where she was a member of the Safe Streets Coalition and served on the Underage Drinking Task Force. She is a Topeka native and graduate of Washburn University and Tabor College.

“I have had the opportunity to work with Safe Streets at various points in my career and am very excited to be part of this incredible program,” said Kristi. “I’m looking forward to working with partner organizations and community members to enhance this invaluable community resource even further.”